What is smartphone pinky?
It refers to dents and discomfort in the pinky caused by holding a phone. “Smartphone pinky” isn’t an official medical diagnosis, but rather a popular term on TikTok (and other social media sites). It refers to a temporary and normal dent on the pinky finger where someone holds their phone, as well as the discomfort, numbness, and long-term issues that can arise from repeatedly supporting the weight of their phone with their pinky. On TikTok, people post videos showing the pinky they use to hold their phone and the pinky they don’t. They report seeing a dent on their phone pinky but not the pinky on their other hand. Some people claim that supporting your phone with your pinky leads to a permanent dent or bend. However, this isn’t true. We’ll explain if holding your phone can really damage your pinky in the section below.
Can your phone injure your pinky?
Holding your phone with your pinky cannot permanently dent it. The general consensus from doctors is that your phone isn’t heavy enough to dent or bend your pinky finger’s bones, muscles, or tendons. However, it can temporarily leave a dent in your pinky, similar to how wearing socks can leave an indentation around your ankle from the pressure of the elastic band. Any temporary dents will go away once you stop holding your phone (usually after an hour or two). Any permanent dents or bends in the pinky are likely caused by preexisting conditions, such as calluses, breaks and fractures, clinodactyly, or Dupuytren contracture. Some people who post about having smartphone pinky actually have a condition that causes their pinky to be bent. For instance, TikTok user @girlboss4lyfe posted a viral video about having smartphone pinky, but she added the tags #broken and #dislocated which indicate her finger may just be broken.
Holding your phone with your pinky can cause pain or muscle strain. Many doctors agree that supporting your phone with your pinky finger can lead to discomfort, pain, or numbness. If done repeatedly, this may also cause stiffness, weakness, or a popping sensation. Additionally, it may cause muscle and tendon strain that can worsen grip strength, pinch strength, and general dexterity. So, is smartphone pinky a real condition? While smartphone pinky isn’t an official medical diagnosis, some doctors may describe it as a concern. It can cause real issues (like pain, strain, etc.) that may develop into real conditions (like carpal tunnel syndrome). However, research on smartphone pinky (and generally, how phone use affects the hands) is very limited.
Other Phone-Related Injuries
Phone use can lead to conditions like trigger finger and carpal tunnel. While smartphone finger may not be an official medical diagnosis, holding and using your phone can potentially exacerbate real conditions related to tendon and nerve irritation. For example, repeated phone use can possibly cause: Trigger Finger: Repetitive motions can cause the tendons in the fingers to get irritated and inflamed. This prevents the tendons from moving properly, which can make it difficult to use the fingers. Eventually, it can cause the fingers to freeze in a bent position. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist, which can lead to numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands and fingers. Repeatedly flexing the wrist is believed to put pressure on the nerve. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: Cubital tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the ulnar nerve in your elbow. Like carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome can cause numbness, pain, and weakness of the hands, fingers, and elbow. It's often caused by repeatedly bending the elbow.
Treating Smartphone Pinky: What to Do for Discomfort
Frequently change up how you’re holding your phone. To reduce potential discomfort, pain, and injury, avoid using the same grip to hold your phone for a long period of time. For instance, every few minutes, completely switch hands or use different fingers to support your phone. When possible, avoid holding your phone while you’re using it. If you’re making a call, use your phone’s speaker or use headphones. Or, prop your phone against something when you’re watching videos.
Keep your wrist in a neutral position when holding your phone. To prevent irritation and stress to your wrists and hands, keep your wrist loose and straight when using your phone. In other words, avoid overly bending your wrist forward or backward. Aim to keep your elbow in a straight, neutral position as much as possible, too.
Take regular breaks to stretch your hands and wrists. About every hour, put your phone down to give your hands, wrists, and elbows a break. To reduce any soreness or tension, do a few stretches, like: Forearm stretch: Extend your arm in front of you and rotate it so your palm is facing up. Then, use your other hand to push the fingers backward and stretch your forearm. Forearm flexor stretch: Extend your arm in front of you so your palm is facing down. Then, use your other hand to push the back of your fingers toward your body.
Use a PopSocket. PopSockets are small circular objects that you attach to the back of your phone. The device pops out (hence the name), which allows you to hold your phone by resting the socket between your fingers. This keeps you from having to bend your fingers to hold your phone or use your pinky as a support. Plus, you can use the PopSocket as a kickstand to prop your phone up on a table while you use it.
Spend less time on your phone. An easy way to keep your hands, wrists, and elbows discomfort-free is to simply use your phone less. Spend your free time doing something else, like reading, trying a new hobby, spending time outdoors, or hanging out with friends. To help manage the amount of time you spend on your phone, set time limits for how long you spend on certain apps and set aside specific times each day for checking your phone. Teen life coach Desiree Panlilio also recommends putting your phone in a different room and setting a timer to give yourself time to do other tasks.
When to See a Doctor
Talk to your doctor if you experience pain or numbness that won’t go away. Because smartphone pinky can exacerbate conditions like trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s important to visit your doctor if you notice any discomfort, pain, or numbness that doesn’t go away or gets worse. Your doctor can diagnose the issue and provide a treatment plan to help reduce your symptoms.
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